Mental Health Court for Violent Offenders?

Excerpt:

Jones also urged lawmakers to consider lifting a ban on access to mental health court for offenders convicted of a violent crime. He said mentally ill offenders often have previous convictions for assault or other crimes that make them ineligible for mental health court, which is designed to route mentally ill defendants into treatment instead of prison.

“It really limits a lot of people from getting the services they need through mental health court,” Jones said.

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/apr/20/advocates-rally-mental-h...